Tack strip

ABSTRACT

A tack strip is disclosed of the type formed from a length of flexible, non-resilient metal longitudinally folded to provide first and second angularly disposed flanges, both serrated to provide a series of tabs separated by notches with the first flange to underlie a margin of upholstery material and the second flange provided with a series of projections overlying the first flange and constituting anchoring tacks when the second flange is folded over the driven flat against the material. The invention provides each tab of the first flange with a hole positioned always to receive one projection and the notches of the first flange to receive the other projections unless the strip is so bent as to close them.

United States Patent [151 3,683,738 Kyriakos 1 Aug. 15, 1972 [54] TACKSTRIP 614,199 12/1948 Great Britain ..85/13 [72] Inventor: Vaselios N.Kyriakos, 27 Magnolia Rd., Sudbury, Mass. 01776 [22] Filed: Feb. 26,1971 [21] Appl. No.: 119,249

[52] US. Cl. ..85/l3, 16/16, 85/11 [51] lint. C1 ..Fl6b 15/00 [58] Fieldof Search ..85/1l, 13, 17; 16/4, 5, 16

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,976,747 10/1934 Reuter etal. ..85/1l 2,051,191 8/1936 Watson ..85/1l 2,256,313 9/1941 Dexter..85/l1 3,008,173 11/1961 Goss et al. ..16/16 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 253,054 7/1964 Australia ..85/ l 3 Primary Exarhiner-MarionParsons, Jr. Attorney-Abbott Spear 5 7 ABSTRACT A tack strip isdisclosed of the type formed from a length of flexible, nonresilientmetal longitudinally folded to provide first and second angularlydisposed flanges, both serrated to provide a series of tabs separated bynotches with the first flange to underlie a margin of upholsterymaterial and the second flange provided with a series of projectionsoverlying the first flange and constituting anchoring tacks when thesecond flange is folded over the driven flat against the material. Theinvention provides each tab of the first flange with a hole positionedalways to receive one projection and the notches of the first flange toreceive the other projections unless the strip is so bent as to closethem.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAum m2 3.633.733

INVENTOR Va/u/ewt QpA ATTORN Y TACK STRIP The present invention relatesto tack strips for use in securing upholstery to the framework offurniture.

In upholstering furniture, it is, of course, essential that the marginsof the material be securely anchored to the framework. It is alsoimportant that the anchored margins be smooth and even. Metal stripstacked to the framework through a margin of the material with thematerial then folded over the concealed strip enabled the edges to besmooth and flat but still required individual tacks. Subsequently, metalstrips were developed provided with tacks and also with tackestablishing projections. The present and most widely used type of tackstrip is formed by lengthwise folding a strip of flexible, non-resilientmetal to provide margins disposed at right angles and serrated toestablish tabs separated by notches with at least one series of notchesintersecting the fold line.

In use, one flange underlies a margin of the material and each of thetabs has a hole therein for an anchoring tack. The other flange is to befolded over and flattened against the material and its tabs have aplurality of integral projections that pierce the material and may enterthe wooden framework. One such tack strip is illustrated by US. Pat. No.3,008,173.

The difficulty with the last described type of tack strip is that thechances of the projections entering the wooden framework are poor sothat if they are relied upon both to anchor the material and attach thestrip, the upholstery may be loose. In addition, the projections as theybecome upset by contact with the tabs of the underlying flange oftenprevent the secured margins from being smooth.

The objectives of the present invention are concerned with ensuring thatthe tack-establishing projection of the overlying flange of the tackstrip of the above detailed type will function to enable the margins ofupholstery to be secured smoothly and evenly attached to the framework.In accordance with the inven tion, this objective is attained byproviding that the notches of the underlying flange are of a type havingone margin extending substantially at right angles to the center of atab of the other flange and its other margin inclined outwardly and awayfrom the other margin with its extremity substantially in alignment withthe proximate end edge of the next tab of said other flange. Theprojections of each tab of said other flange are spaced such that oneenters through the hole in the tab that underlies it when said otherflange is folded flat against the material and the other projection orprojections of each such flange enter the framework through theappropriate notch unless the strip is bent, as it is attached, to anextent closing that notch.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown an embodiment of theinvention illustrative of these and other of its novel features andadvantages.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a strip, the strip beingshown as somewhat enlarged;

FIG. 2 is a view of the strip showing its first flange in edge view witha tab of the second flange folded against it;

FIG. 3 is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines 3-3 ofFIG. 2 illustrating the anchoring of upholstery material; and

FIG. 4 is an approximately full-size view of a section of the strip,showing the second flange in edge view.

A tack strip in accordance with the invention is formed from a band offlexible, non-resilient metal folded lengthwise to establish first andsecond right angularly disposed flanges generally indicated at 5 and 6,respectively, and a fold line 7.

The flanges are both serrated to provide each with a series of tabsseparated by notches with the notches of either one or both of theflanges intersecting the fold line 7. In the case of the flange 5, thenotches are in the form of relatively narrow slots 8 intersecting thefold line 7 and having their margins parallel and at right an gles tothe fold line 7 and the tabs 9 are oblong. Each tab 9 is shown as havinga lengthwise series of equally spaced, integral projections 10,preferably three projections for each tab 9. The tabs 9 may be unequallyspaced and they do need to be in lengthwise alignment so long as theyare disposed to enter the wood. The projections 10 are disposed tooverlie the flange 6 and to function as anchoring tacks.

In the case of the flange 6, each tab 11 interconnects two tabs 9 andeach notch 12 includes an edge 12A disposed at right angles andextending substantially to the fold line 7 and centrally of one of thetabs 9 it interconnects while its edge 12B tapers outwardly towards theother tab 9 it interconnects with its junction with the next tab 1 1substantially in alignment with the proximate edge of said other tab 9.

It will be noted that each flange 11 has a hole 13 transversely alignedwith the tack-establishing projection 10 adjacent the margin 8B andspaced relative thereto so that when the margin of material 14 is laidover the flange 6 to register with the fold line 7 and the flange 5 thenfolded flat against said margin, that projection passes through the hole13 and is driven into the subjacent wooden understructure 15 and theother projection or projections will pass through a notch 12 and also bedriven into the wood. The holes 13 may be of any desired size and shape.For example, they might be in the .form of slots to permit tacks to beused without interfering with the anchoring functions of the projection10. If preferred, the same effect can be attained by more than one hole.

From FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that if the strip is bent forwardlyor rearwardly in the plane of the flange 6, the fold lines 16 arecentrally of the tabs 12. If such bending widens a notch 12, all theprojections are always effective as strip-anchoring tacks and this isalso true if the bending is upwardly or downwardly with respect to thatflange. If, however, the bending of the strip narrows a notch 12 atleast one of the projections remains operative until the notch is almostcompletely closed.

It will be noted from FIG. 4 that the flange 5 is narrower than theflange 6. The flanges may be of the same width or the flange 6 may bewider than the flange 5.

As will be apparent from FIG. 3, after the strip has been folded toanchor a margin of the material, the material is folded over the strip.While anchoring of the strip is a necessity and is achieved by the abovedescribed arrangement, it is also important that the strip be as thin aspossible when in use. The notch arrangement shown in the drawings,avoids the overlapping of the tabs 11 except when the strip has beenbent into an abnormal position but even in that case, one projection ofeach tab 9 will always pass freely into the wood 15.

lclaim:

1. A tack strip for anchoring upholstery materials to underlying woodstructure, said strip comprising a band of flexible, non-resilient metalhaving a lengthwise fold dividing it into first and second angularlydisposed flanges, both flanges serrated to provide a series of tabs withnotches between them, each notch extending at least to the foldapproximately midway between the ends of a tab of the other series, thefirst flange to underlie a margin of the material and the second flangeto be folded over said margin, each tab of the second flange including aplurality of integral projections, each disposed at right angles theretoto overlie the first flange and constituting a tack, and each notch ofthe first flange having one margin substantially at right angles to atab of the second flange and its other margin inclined outwardly awayfrom said one margin with its outer extremity substantially in alignmentwith the proximate edge of a next tab of said second flange, and eachtab of said first flange having a hole with which one tack of a tab ofsaid second flange is in transverse alignment, said tacks of said secondflange and said holes and notches of said first flange being arranged sothat, when said flanges are folded together, appropriate ones of thetacks pass through the tackholes of the first flange and the other tackspass through the notches thereof both when the strip is straight andalso when it is curved in either lateral direction to a predeterminedextent.

2. The tack strip of claim 1 in which each tab of the second flangeincludes three tack-establishing projections one end projection forentry through the hole of a tab of the first flange and the other twoprojections for entry through the proximate notch.

1. A tack strip for anchoring upholstery materials to underlying woodstructure, said strip comprising a band of flexible, nonresilient metalhaving a lengthwise fold dividing it into first and second angularlydisposed flanges, both flanges serrated to provide a series of tabs withnotches between them, each notch extending at least to the foldapproximately midway between the ends of a tab of the other series, thefirst flange to underlie a margin of the material and the second flangeto be folded over said margin, each tab of the second flange including aplurality of integral projections, each disposed at right angles theretoto overlie the first flange and constituting a tack, and each notch ofthe first flange having one margin substantially at right angles to atab of the second flange and its other margin inclined outwardly awayfrom said one margin with its outer extremity substantially in alignmentwith the proximate edge of a next tab of said second flange, and eachtab of said first flange having a hole with which one tack of a tab ofsaid second flange is in transverse alignment, said tacks of said secondflange and said holes and notches of said first flange being arranged sothat, when said flanges are folded together, appropriate ones of thetacks pass through the tack holes of the first flange and the othertacks pass through the notches thereof both when the strip is straightand also when it is curved in either lateral direction to apredetermined extent.
 2. The tack strip of claim 1 in which each tab ofthe second flange includes three tack-establishing projections one endprojection for entry through the hole of a tab of the first flange andthe other two projections for entry through the proximate notch.